Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Battaramulla Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Battaramulla

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $520 in Battaramulla, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $862 in Battaramulla, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,204 in Battaramulla, rent included.

Medellin costs about 98% more than Battaramulla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Battaramulla are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Battaramulla 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$4.09 LKR 1,295

44.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

$25.34 LKR 8,019

30.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

$8.33 LKR 2,636

-12.97%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

$2.67 LKR 844

-35.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,915

$0.69 LKR 219

57.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

$0.37 LKR 118

108.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$2.35 LKR 745

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

$3.28 LKR 1,039

-3.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

$1.77 LKR 562

-40.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

$0.56 LKR 176

132.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

$0.87 LKR 277

58.62%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

$2.13 LKR 674

3.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

$13.99 LKR 4,428

-67.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

$4.80 LKR 1,521

20.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

$7.99 LKR 2,528

12.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

$7.28 LKR 2,305

-68.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

$1.12 LKR 355

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

$5.91 LKR 1,871

-74.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

$1.26 LKR 399

7.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

$1.15 LKR 363

0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

$1.36 LKR 431

-13.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

$1.19 LKR 378

-30.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

$0.61 LKR 192

39.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

$9.95 LKR 3,150

-76.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

$12.89 LKR 4,080

-13.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

$2.09 LKR 663

-44.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

$2.82 LKR 894

-12.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

$0.41 LKR 131

251.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

$0.33 LKR 104

475.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

$0.61 LKR 194

1162.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

$1.20 LKR 379

-14.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.7K COP 63.3M

$26.5K LKR 8.4M

-33.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K COP 96.7M

$34.5K LKR 10.9M

-21.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.4 COP 291.4K

$60.8 LKR 19.3K

33.83%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.42 COP 33.7K

$4.37 LKR 1,385

115.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

$15.00 LKR 4,749

58.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

$3.33 LKR 1,055

21.62%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

$36.43 LKR 11.5K

757.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

$443 LKR 140.3K

1268.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

$27.14 LKR 8,590

116.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

$19.64 LKR 6,217

67.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

$69.5 LKR 22.0K

44.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

$38.31 LKR 12.1K

177.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

16.45

-18.36%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Battaramulla: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $0 in Battaramulla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Medellin versus $25 in Battaramulla. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $259 in Battaramulla – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Battaramulla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 98% more than Battaramulla, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,544 per month in Medellin and $780 in Battaramulla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $520 in Battaramulla. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $36.43 in Battaramulla. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Battaramulla, where all-in costs run around $520, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Battaramulla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Battaramulla costs $520 versus $1,030 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Battaramulla. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.